In both polls over half responded that they have considered emigrating. However, in the latest poll 13% responded that they were hoping to go in the near future, up from 7% in 2003 and a quarter of young people said that they were hoping to live abroad.

The most popular emigration destinations were Australia, Spain, Canada, New Zealand and the US.
Reasons given for emigrating included:

better quality of life
better weather
UK is too expensive
12% said they did not like what the UK had become and 10% said they already had friends or family overseas.

According to official figures, record numbers of people have been emigrating with 350,000 having left in 2004 - up a third on ten years.

The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR), a think tank, is trying to count as many expats as possible in a project running through 2006. IPPR invite Brits who have lived abroad, currently live abroad or who are thinking of moving abroad, to complete a short 10 question, multi-choice emigration survey. The most illuminating story will receive a '150 voucher to spend on British goods at Expat Shopping Co-op.

The BBC News website also wants to hear stories of life abroad from people who have left the UK behind - and what it means to them.

BBC are appealing for pictures and, where possible, video (you can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 07725 100 100 or the Brits Abroad group at Flickr). The information will help to build a global picture of expat life, whether you are someone who has recently emigrated, or someone who has not been back for 40 years.